Microsoft intends to discredit icloud advantage of SkyDrive

In an area of enormous development such as services that Cloud is expanding enormously in the last month, get over chief rival appears to be no easy feat. There are many important players in the game between Apple, Google, Dropbox and others, Microsoft has just launched a new website to advertise their service storage of documents cross-platform, SkyDrive,  which emphasizes the advantages of its Cloud compared to those that Apple offers with icloud .

The attempt, not too hidden, is to convince the audience that the Apple service offered by Microsoft is higher than that of Cupertino, in the hope that users of Apple may decide to subscribe to SkyDrive abandoning, in fact Apple and its icloud .

The web page created by Microsoft has a pretty clear and decisive way that leaves no room for doubt: "icloud is not enough? Try SkyDrive " . In fact, the service of Microsoft has the features that icloud does not have as, for example, collaborative editing of documents, the sharing of notes and cross-platform accessibility to the service .

In a video made ​​for the occasion, Microsoft SkyDrive emphasizes that users can access their files from any device , while icloud is still limited to certain documents created with iWorks files or third-party applications that use APIs Apple.

In short, between Microsoft, Google and Apple, with their SkyDrive, Google Drive and icloud, the battle on the domain of the cloud computing market is just beginning, while Dropbox is still the undisputed leader .

iTunes 11 will support iOS 6 and tight integration with iCloud

Apple conducts internal testing beta versions of the next major update to the multimedia platform iTunes, says 9to5Mac. It is reported that a new version of iTunes receive the support of iOS 6, and tight integration with the cloud service iCloud.

Citing an anonymous source inside Apple, the publication says:

“Apple is working on the eleventh version of iTunes, which will support the next release of iOS 6 for mobile devices. The company often releases new iTunes build, together with the main versions of the operating system for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. However, despite the stated compatibility with iOS 6, iTunes 11 can not be the first to build support for the new operating system. It is possible, the company will release another update iTunes 10.x, with support for devices based on iOS 6 “.

In addition, the source said of the close integration of iTunes with the remote repository 11 iCloud:

“The most obvious proof of this is that there are a separate control panel for iCloud. This section contains everything needed to control the functions of iCloud-compatible iTunes”.

Along with iTunes 11 Apple designers spend and testing mobile platform iOS 6. In the past month tehnoblog ArsTechnica discovered in the log files of its own evidence of a server device class iPad, operating under the control of "six".

The debut of iTunes 11 and iOS 6 is expected at the conference WWDC 12 , which will be held on 11 to 15 June.

How to sync iCloud with Dropbox [instructions]

Online service Dropbox, founded by Drew Houston and Arash, was launched in 2007. The service, coming from a startup incubator Y Combinator, Lets you store and synchronize files over the Internet, and share them with others. Before the advent of cloud service, many owners of Apple iCloud iPhone, iPod touch and iPad use Dropbox to exchange data between devices, and some continue to use it to this day.

For such users will be relevant instructions for configuring your computer to automatically copy data from a cloud in the Apple account Dropbox. In this case it is a one-way synchronization of iCloud in the Dropbox. Make it easy enough.

How to sync with iCloud Dropbox:

Step 1 : Check that you have enabled iCloud. To do this, go to Settings -> iCloud and make sure the front of the item documents and data ticked.

Step 2 : Create a file in iCloud. This option can vary in different applications, such as a text editor Byword is the menu item File -> Move to iCloud.

Step 3 : Find a local folder iCloud. To do this, open Finder, Team Go -> Go to Folder. Insert the path ~ / Library /. Here, find the folder Mobile Documents, which contains a list of subfolders with data from the cloud Apple.

Step 4 : Synchronize changes with Hazel. Hazel - a program for the Mac, tidy and easily automates many tasks and also set up a test setup for sorting files in OS X. In the third version of the application the opportunity to synchronize data.

For example, a program Byword you can create a separate folder within the Dropbox and Hazel specified in the rule: "If you notice changes in a specified directory, sync folder Documents (inside ~ / Library / Mobile Documents /) with a folder for Byword in Dropbox».

Step 5 : This step is optional. With this program,  Default Folder X , set the DEFAULT Byword folder in the cloud iCloud. So whenever you create a new document, it will be automatically saved in the iCloud and Dropbox.

Apple will build a huge data center in Oregon

Apple is considering buying land in Oregon (USA) to build new data center, reports Oregon Live. An area of ​​650 thousand square meters. m is located in the city Prinvillhalf a kilometer from the new server farm, Facebook, launched this summer. Finally, Apple's decision to take until the end of this year.

IPhone and iPad manufacturer chose this place is no accident. Faced with the need to stimulate the local economy and attract additional investment, the Government of the State of Oregon has gone on to provide significant tax benefits IT-corporations who want to start your business in its territory. This has already benefited from such Internet like Google and Facebook, which launched in Oregon's own data centers.

The second important factor for building a new station in Oregon is a low cost of electricity in the region. According to analysts, Apple building will be 31 megawatts, which is comparable to the consumption of five such cities as Prinvill.

The local power company has already announced that will satisfy the needs of Apple, but for maximum efficiency in the next three years, scheduled to launch additional substation and installation of new power lines. The district is preparing to become a single global repository of information.

Recall that in the past year, Apple  has completed the construction of the data center cost $ 1 billion. The building is located in an area of 910 thousand square meters. m near the intersection of routes 321 and Startaun-road in the town of Maiden, is used including cloud iCloud.

The company also began building a solar power station , which will provide energy data center in North Carolina. With the launch of new server capacity Apple began searching talented executives. Previously received information that the  company has hired managers to develop web applications for iCloud.

Apple “officially” gave up some MobileMe features

In general we can say that MobileMe features will be upgraded simply by switching to a new service iCloud, but not all - before Apple announced that the Gallery, iDisk and iWeb will cease to exist. Every day we learn more about the future of cloud services, and recently kupertinovtsy made ​​it clear that the function of synchronizing data in iCloud just will not.

The main feature of the Mac, and later, and MobileMe, the cloud has been integrated with iSync - a special tool for Mac Apple, which was used to synchronize data stored on multiple devices and has become part of the "digital hub strategy", first introduced about 10 years ago. Synchronization option in the Mac and MobileMe «moved» actual database from the user's Mac to the cloud, and made it possible to sync between Mac additional types of melon.

Now MobileMe can synchronize between Mac various settings, including the widgets Dashboard, Dock - elements, passwords and credentials in the Keychain, information about accounts email (in particular, Mail Rules), Signatures and Smart Mailboxes, and System Preferences.

However, all these functions are unavailable when a user "migrate" from the MobileMe service in the new iCloud, with the help of a dedicated portal created by Apple me.com / move.

Other functions of MobileMe, which will not be tolerated in iCloud, including the media - Hosting Gallery, cloud "storage» iDisk and integrated web hosting iWeb, MobileMe will be available to subscribers until June 30 next year, even after transfer to iCloud other data. These functions are easy to make independent iCloud, since no direct counterpart in the new "cloud" they do not.

Media - Hosting Gallery received a "second wind" with a new feature Photo Stream, which allows you to transfer photos and albums directly to mobile devices, Mac and Apple TV, and not through the web site. Similar opportunities are given iDisk - user stores various types of documents and data in a personal space for "apple" Internet - servers, but not in the web hosting services.

While the process of "migration" in iCloud is only available to developers, because it requires the presence of iOS 5 beta 5 in the mobile device, package, Mac OS X Lion 10.7.2 with iCloud for Os X Lion beta 6 in the Mac, and iCloud Control Panel for Windows beta 4 in your PC.

Why take time to go?

In general, the fact of termination of certain features in the new Apple iCloud cloud seems curious, especially the "Keychain» Keychains and system settings System Preferences - perhaps, the company intends to transfer these functions "at the mercy of" third-party developers to come up with their applications for these functions .

Mail accounts have been sufficiently processed in Mac OS X Lion, and do the same job in iCloud, surely it would be too time-consuming, at Lion external mail accounts are now integrated with the applications «Mail and Notes» (mail and notes), «Calendar and Reminders »(calendar and reminders), Chat and Contacts.

In addition, Dock - elements in the new Lion «grown up" in the function of Launchpad, which can cause problems synchronizing elements of Mac OS X Lion with other Mac, which run on earlier versions of Mac OS X.

Apple notes that if the Mail, Contacts and Calendars will "migrate" to MobileMe from iCloud, bookmarks Bookmarks can be simply imported from the client system. The fact that Apple needed to reduce the list of migration in iCloud Data Group, said that the company strives to make the transition from MobileMe to a new "cloud" as simple and user-friendly.

Another reason for the difference in the list of MobileMe features and iCloud may be changes in security that are open iDisk from a careful isolation of iCloud documents Documents & Data.

Now, with the MobileMe synchronization in Mac OS X Sync Services, they (the data) is copied into a special folder with open access. It is likely that Apple is going to fully protect data and prevent any iCloud malicious attacks. Individual applications, such as the Keychain Access, Launchpad and System Preferences, in the future can be modified to find their place in iCloud, but in a more secure fashion than MobileMe.

Source: appleinsider.com

Apple launched the Find My Mac feature to iCloud.com

Apple has made ​​available to developers who have access to the site iCloud.com, a new feature Find My Mac . It allows you to locate your lost your Mac, as well as remotely block it and delete the contents of memory.

As seen from this brief description, Find My Mac is a version of the function Find My iPhone, which allows you to perform similar operations with a smartphone Apple. The only fundamental difference is that Mac computers are not equipped with GPS, and, according to informed sources, Find My Mac to determine the location of the computer network using WiFi .

Once the service determines where the lost or stolen Mac, the computer owner can use the tool to play on the device audio signal to send him a message, lock the screen or erase all information on its hard drive. Once locked the computer using the Find My Mac user is prompted to enter a four-PIN-code to re-gain access to your Mac (see photo below). It is expected that for the general public service Find My Mac will be available this fall simultaneously with the start-up service iCloud.

Recall that in June this year, as part of Worldwide Developers Conference WWDC-2011, Apple has officially unveiled a new free service iCloud. It consists of modified versions of the main functions of the service MobileMe, but also offers the user the opportunity to re-download purchased applications, books and music. In addition, the server cloud iCloud can use to backup the necessary data. On Monday, Apple has activated the login page on the site iCloud.com, although not all users were able to go there.